Pam Tebow to be featured speaker at annual Bishop's Pro-Life Dinner

By Joan Kurkowski-Gillen

Correspondent

When pressured to abort her fifth child, Pam Tebow rejected the doctor’s recommendation and placed her faith in God. A few months later, the 37-year-old mother gave birth to a healthy boy, named Tim, who grew up to become an All-American quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, and player in the National Football League.

Sponsored by the diocesan Respect Life Office, the event raises money for ministries that protect, nurture, and sustain human life from conception to natural death. Youth for Life education projects, Gabriel Project assistance to women facing a crisis pregnancy, and post abortion care offered through Rachel Ministries, are some of the hands-on programs receiving support. The Respect Life Office also encourages prayer and worship activities in parishes as well as civic action promoting pro-life legislation.

Michael Demma, Respect Life director, said attendees at this year’s banquet will find Tebow’s testimony riveting.

“She’s a very good speaker and has lived the decision,” he enthused. “Her life is devoted to the pro-life cause.”

Demand for Tebow’s pro-life talk grew after a 30-second commercial aired during Super Bowl XLIV. CBS was heavily criticized for broadcasting the Focus on the Family-sponsored ad in which Pam Tebow describes her son, Tim, as a “miracle baby.” The words “pro-life” or “abortion” were never spoken, but viewers were encouraged to “celebrate family and celebrate life.” A poll showed that 5.5 million people rethought their stance on abortion after seeing the advertisement.

“We’re hoping the guest speaker is going to be a very big draw,” Demma said. “Money raised from the dinner helps us do some important work.”

The diocesan Respect Life office recently joined with other pro-life advocates to successfully lobby state senators and representatives to pass a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks. Governor Rick Perry signed the landmark legislation into law on July 18.

“We actively advocated for the bill,” said Demma, explaining that some pro-life volunteers went 27 hours without sleep to attend the hearings, debates, and vote. “It was intense. The opposition was rude, crude, and sometimes violent.”

By comparison, pro-life advocates of all faiths remained calm and prayerful in the Capitol’s gallery during the legislative process.

“They were Christian in their actions,” he added proudly.

Youth for Life programs are another priority.

“If we’re going to change the world of abortion and save lives, it’s going to be with our youth and not just with our laws,” Demma pointed out. “It’s up to us to educate youth so, regardless of what the law states, our young men and women respect the dignity of life at all stages of life.”

To achieve that goal, the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Dallas co-sponsor two informative pro-life “boot camps” each summer. The Respect Life office also introduced a nine-month, spiritual adoption program into every Catholic school in the diocese. Materials help students learn about the development of unborn children while praying for unborn souls in heaven. At the end of the year, many schools have a baby shower with gifts donated to the Gabriel Project or crisis pregnancy centers.

Individuals can support ministries helped by the Bishop’s Pro-life dinner by purchasing an individual $85 ticket or sponsoring a table. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28, with dinner served at 7:30 p.m. The 2013 dinner will include a silent and live auction, but organizers say there will be no Service to Life Award presentation this year.

“We have an army of worthy candidates,” Demma admitted, “but nobody in this ministry does it because of a glass plaque.”

For the past 30 years, many people have prayed outside abortion clinics, operated crisis pregnancy centers, and volunteered for pro-life ministries.

“It’s impossible to pick one person over another. They are all amazingly courageous,” he said. “They all deserve recognition.”

Demma expects a large turnout for the 2013 Bishop’s pro-life dinner. As Fort Worth awaits a new bishop, the fundraiser is an opportunity to showcase strong support for pro-life ministries, Demma pointed out.

“We need the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, and parish organizations to come and demonstrate for our new bishop — whoever that might be — that Fort Worth is pro-life!”

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Someone once told me that “the Catholic Church is the Church of the living”; a profound statement which made me think, “What is ‘not living’ about a baby in the womb?” I realized that if we possess foundational dignity for unborn human life, we might then be passionate about all human life. Human life deserves dignity from conception, which then flows naturally to all human life, regardless of its frailties and faults.

Governor Rick Perry signed the Preborn Pain Act into law July 17. The Texas Senate passed the Preborn Pain Act shortly after midnight Saturday July 13. The act, which will restrict abortions across Texas, was passed by the state House of Representatives on July 10.

When pressured to abort her fifth child, Pam Tebow rejected the doctor’s recommendation and placed her faith in God. A few months later, the 37-year-old mother gave birth to a healthy boy, named Tim, who grew up to become an All-American quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, and player in the National Football League.